Fort Bend Epicenter

The Fort Bend Epicenter is truly a Landmark within the Fort Bend community and the greater Houston area. The Epicenter is located in the county’s geographic center (from which the name “Epicenter” comes), and is a one stop shop for the local and regional community, as well as an economic and commercial asset thanks to the wide range of programming it can support. It is changing the Houston area by serving as a catalyst for community, culture, and commerce, both in the rapidly growing suburb nearby, as well as the entire region. Local residents who previously had to travel into Houston – or beyond – for many of the types of activities that the Epicenter now hosts, whether that be youth sports, civic service, fine arts performances, concerts, trade shows, and more, now have a state of the art center in their own back yard. The capacity to host these sorts of events will foster a sense of community pride, and engagement, and overall, stimulate the culture and commerce within Fort Bend County.

The Epicenter is also expected to complement the offerings of similar venues nearby, like the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, which hosts large concerts and arts events. The site is home to the annual Fort Bend County Fair and has been for almost 100 years. This property is following the trend of fairgrounds being enhanced or repurposed to meet the needs of their surrounding communities. It is an asset to the local community, but it is also used for global-scale entities, such as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The local Lamar CISD and Fort Bend ISD will also be able to utilize the space for athletics, arts, and other performances and competitions, as well as graduation ceremonies.

The venue is truly multipurpose and supports varied competitive sporting events (basketball, volleyball, arena football, indoor soccer, hockey, wrestling, etc.), multiple-court club-sport events, dance/cheer, graduation/commencement, agriculture-based events, trade shows, concerts, banquet, etc.

The Epicenter sits on the county’s highest elevation and will be a haven for residents during catastrophes like hurricanes. The center will serve as a mass shelter for the community in times of need. Long-term, the Epicenter has the potential to impact the area directly surrounding the facility even more significantly in the future. The County has announced its goals to use the remaining commercial parcels of the tract for future hotels, parking garages, and retail entities, spurring a local “entertainment district”. While this is still under consideration, it would greatly impact the community and the greater Houston area.

In 2015, the dream of a regional multi-purpose facility in the already-bustling and rapidly growing Fort Bend County began to take shape. This vision gained momentum over the next few years, leading to the formation of a committee in 2018 to evaluate the feasibility of locating the facility near the county fairgrounds. By 2021, after numerous economic impact studies and presentations to the committee, funding was secured, allowing the project to move into the final design and construction phase. Throughout its development, the Epicenter evolved from a community-focused venue to a high-profile entertainment hub capable of hosting a variety of events, including graduations, sporting events, concerts, trade shows, and serving as a post-disaster operations center.

Despite facing significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including labor shortages, regulatory uncertainties, and supply chain disruptions, the project persevered. Construction commenced in January 2022, and by August 2023, the facility celebrated its grand opening, marking a significant milestone for Fort Bend County.

Financial stability was a critical factor in the project’s success. Discussions began in 2017, and rather than waiting for a potential bond election in November, the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court enlisted Stonehenge Companies to expedite the process. Recognizing the benefits of a public-private partnership (P3), Stonehenge ensured the project would avoid interest rate fluctuations and cost overruns due to delays.

While the P3 model facilitated financing, the county committed to funding operations and approved advance funding of up to $27 million over ten years. The estimated costs, approximately $1 million through year three, are projected to be repaid by year four. To manage the venue, the county engaged The Sports Facilities Companies, leveraging their expertise in operating sports, recreation, and event facilities.
Revenue generation has been robust, with the facility already earning $800,000 in sponsorship revenue from vendors such as Chick-fil-A, Southwest, PepsiCo, Mitsubishi, GFL Environmental, Bud Light, and Energy Texas. Naming rights, concessions, and other revenue streams are expected to further bolster the facility’s financial sustainability.